Strength and Contentment in All Things
READ: Philippians 4:10-13 Adapted from Every Moment Holy, by Douglas McKelvey. p. 228-230. CHRISTIAN: I come to you, O Christ,in dismay, fearing I might failin what is now before me. FELLOW BELIEVER: Ah Christian,if you would truly serve your Maker,in whatever capacity or vacation,is it not necessary for your own good,and for the good of the kingdom of God,that you would sometimes be metwith such fear and dismay? CHRISTIAN: But how could such a besetting fear everbe for my good, or for the good ofGod's eternal kingdom? FELLOW BELIEVER: Under the Spirit's tutelage, such fearsmight become messengers of grace,revealing to you
Remember Mercy
READ: Matthew 18:21-35 Written by Paul David Tripp. New Morning Mercies, March 1. We all do it, probably every day. We have no idea that we're doing it, yet it has a huge impact on the way we view ourselves and the way we respond to others. It is one of the reasons there is so much relational trouble even in the house of God. What is this thing that we all tend to do that causes so much harm? We all forget. In the busyness and self-centeredness of our lives, we sadly forget how much our lives have been
Who, Me a Servant? You Gotta Be Kidding!
READ: John 13:1-20 Written by Charles R. Swindoll from "Improving Your Serve" chapt. 1. Maybe you've never before stopped to consider that God is committed to one major objective in the lives of all His people: to conform us to "the image of His Son." We need to blow the dust off that timeless goal now that our cage is overcrowded and our lives are growing increasingly more distant from each other. Exactly what does our heavenly Father want to develop within us? What is that "image of His Son"? Well, rather than getting neck deep in tricky theological waters, I
Questions About Confession
The practice of confession brings up several practical questions such as "when should I confess only to God vs. confess to another Christian?" or "How specific should I be when confessing past sin"? Here are five resources to encourage you in the discipline of confession as we embrace the joy, freedom, and fellowship with Christ that comes from "living in the light.” The Examen — This brief outline provides you a framework to end your day in God's presence. Use this (print it off, leave it beside your bed!) to build a daily habit of giving thanks, confessing sin, and
Confession And a Cry For Change
Written by Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies. July 20. I want to refer you right now to one of the Bible's best-known prayers of confession. The problem is that it's so familiar to most of us that we've quit giving it the examination that it requires in order for us to receive from it the rescue that it offers. The confession is David's in Psalm 51:1-12 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.4 Against you,
Lent and Fasting I, II, III, lV
As we begin this season of Lent together I’ll be posting some encouraging short articles on Lent and fasting daily this week to encourage you along the way! Godspeed on your journey to the Cross!Pastor Larry Why Do Christians Fast? by John PiperThis is a helpful short interview with Pastor John Piper that gives an overview of fasting for Christians. Lent is Here to Throw Us Off Again by Prof. David Taylorthis is a thoughtful devotional reflection on Lent. I loved this thought from this article, "Lent is an invitation to get us outside of ourselves, so that we might get over
Proving Our Faith
Article by R.C. Sproul - https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/proving-our-faith/ Read: Isaiah 58 The people of Israel, both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, went into exile because of their failure to trust and obey God (2 Kings 17:7–41; 2 Chron. 36:15–16; Isa. 1–5; 39). Restoration, therefore, could happen in only one way—God had to provide an atonement for sin that would make His people into the servants they were always supposed to be. If even holy Isaiah needed cleansing to serve the Lord (Isa. 6:1–8), how much more did the people in their evil need this atonement? At this point in redemptive history, we look
Why Are You on the Earth?
Article by John Piper - https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/why-are-you-on-the-earth Read: Psalm 96 George Herbert’s poem called “Praise” contains a verse that has been taped to my computer monitor since I first read it years ago. Of all the creatures both in sea and landOnly to man Thou has made known Thy ways,And put the pen alone into his hand,And made him secretary of Thy praise. This is the answer to our question. Why is man on the earth? He is here to be the secretary of the praise of God. To which our querying minds say, But do not “the heavens tell the glory of God” (Psalm
Providence and Charity
By Erik Raymond https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/erik-raymond/providence-and-charity/ Read: Psalm 72:1-4; 12-14 I was recently visiting with a friend and he remarked as to how convicted he was in reading Charity and Its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards. My friend specifically articulated how precisely Edwards used the Scriptures to expose his own heart attitude of selfishness. As I sat and listened I myself was convicted. And furthermore, I was convicted because, for whatever reason, I never finished reading the classic work by Edwards. As a result I picked up the book again. Now I am wondering why I ever put it down in the first place! The
Real Rest
By R.C. Sproul https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/rest-come Read: Psalm 95 “For forty years I loathed that generation and said, ‘They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.’ Therefore I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest’” (vv. 10–11). - Psalm 95 Typical of every portion of the Old Testament, the Ten Commandments are not only ends in themselves but rather point to a future in which their intent will find its fullest expression in the new heaven and earth. They anticipate an age when they will be followed in all their fullness as
